Pleat former and holder



Nov. 20, 1951 A. R. sYLvANus PLEAT FORMER AND HOLDER Filed' June 19, 1948 R. m W. W M

BUC-UST 2.5YLVANUS 67/01 MM 9' M? ATTORN EVYS Patented Nov. 20, 1951 ft-Ffi UNITED s'l'n'rsfs PATENT OFFICE PLEAT FORMER AND HOLDER August R. Sylvanus, San Francisco, Calif.

Application June 19, 1948-, Serial No. 34,102

Claims.

This invention relates to a pleat former 'and holder, and which former and holder is a type particularly suitable'for forming French pleats in draperies and curtains.

The so called French pleats are commonly used at the top of draperies and for glass curtains when no over curtains or valence are used.

The usual manner of forming said pleats is to divide each pleat at the lower edge of the heading into three smaller pleats and to then run a needle through all three pleats, connecting them with the thread. The main pleat is also sewed in a manner to hold its shape, the entire job for each pleat being laborious, time consuming and requiring considerable skill. Once the pleats'are formed, a washing of the curtains or draperies requires ripping out the old stitches, and` thereafter re-forming and again sewing them to form. Some draperies and curtains, such for example, as some made of nylon, fiber cloth, Canvas, etc., are very difiicult to sew, and the housewife usually does not attempt it.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of simple and economical means for forming pleats in draperies and curtains and for holding them in the desired shape, and which means are easily and quickly removed, thereby permitting the draperies and curtains to be washed and dried without the necessity for ripping out old stitches.

Another object of the invention is the pr'ovision of simple, easily manipulated means for forming pleats in draperies and in curtains, and for holding said pleats in the proper shape after being formed, and each of which means includes an element for use in suspending the curtain or draperies from a rod, bracket or support.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a pleat former and holder for draperies and curtains that is adapted to be used for suspending the draperies and curtains from the conventional supports without injury to the draperies or curtains.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and in the drawings.

In the drawings,

' Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one of the pleat formers and holders in open position.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a pleat former and holder in position along the upper edge of a curtain, a portion of said curtain and the upper end of the pleat being indicated. y

Fig. 3 is a front view of a French pleat, partly and holder, in position. V

2 I Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

- In detail, the former illustrated in the drawings comprises a pair of wire legs l, 2, preferably of spring wire. Said legs are respectively formed at one of their ends with extensions 3, 4 that moreor less double back on the legs toward their opposite ends, and which extend slantingly and laterally to corresponding sides of said legs. These extensions respectively terminate in end portions 5, 6 that have sharp terminating ends. The said end portions project toward each other and when the legs I, 2 are together in side by side relationship the said end portions are parallel with one above the other as best seen in Fig. 3.

. While the extensions 3, 4 similarly project lat- 'erally from legs I, 2, they have a slight inclination away from each other with their lower ends being the convergent ends, which is best seen in Fig. 3.

When in use the former and holder is posi- -tioned with the legs extending generally verltically with the extensions 3, 4 and portions 5, 6 at the lower ends thereof. The upper ends of said legs are pivotally connected together. This pivotal connection is formed by giving the upper end` portion of leg 2 several turns 'l (Fig. 1) around a later'al projecting portion of the upper end of leg -I.

An extension 8 of the coil of leg 2 projects downwardly and carries a downwardly opening hook 9 thereon, which hook is adapted to engage over a supporting rod or is adapted to engage any of the conventional means employed for supporting curtains or draperies. In some instances the hook is replaced by a ring, but in any event, the extension 8 is provided With means for suspending the former and holder from any of the con- Ventional supports that are used for curtains or draperies. When a hook is used, the closedupper end Ill is substantially above the end portions 5, B

of the legs l, 2 and the same relationship for the upper side of a ring Would be observed were a ring used instead of a hook. The lower terminating end portion of the hook is preferably inclined generally in direction downwardly and away from the legs i, 2 to facilitate positioning the hook in engagement with whatever support 'is used. By so forming the hook, the former and holder will support the drapery or curtain correctly from the heading or upper edge thereof.

The laterally projecting portion of leg about which the coils'l extend, is extended downwardly and generally parallel with leg I, as at |2, except for a slightfislant toward said leg, as seen in Fig.

awm-12 4. 'I'he lowermost end |3 of extension I! then slants away from the leg I.

The extension l2 will spring over the extension 8 at its lower end when the legs I, 2 are swung to closed position, thus yieldably and releasably holding the legs together. However, the legs can be quickly and easily released by merely springing the extension 12 past the extension 8 in a direction that would cause the leg l to swing away from leg 2,. The extension 8 is yirtually a crank ar-m rig-id with leg I. 1The leg =l swings with the extension 8, and the extension 8 of coils 'l is positioned to act as a detent over which the lower end of the extension l2 must spring before the legs I, 2 are releasably locked together when the leg l is swung to closed position .alongside leg 2.

In operation, the operator will form a main pleat 15 in the upper marginal portion of the curtain IG (Figs. 2, 3). The legs I, 2 are then thrust downwardly between the pleat and Vthe main body of the curtain at opposite sides of the iuncture between the pleat and the main body of the curtain (Fig. 2). The main pleat is then formed into three smaller `pleats or folds H at about the lower edge of the heading, which may be between three and four inches from the upper edge of the curtain, and these three folds are impaled by the pin like opposed end portions 5, 8 on legs I, 2 by 'pressing said end portions toward each other with the said folds l'l between them (Fig. 3). At the same time, the legs 2 `will tightly grip the larger pleat at its juncture with the main body of the curtain, holding it together or ,in shape.

The legs I, 2 are preferably vcc )mplemfnitarily corr-ugated or bent along their lengths so as to fit together, were the material of the curtain not between them, and When the said material is between them in forming the pleat, they will maintain a tight friction grip on the said material, so that the weight of the curtain from the holder will not be carried by the end portions 5, 6. as much as by the gripping action of the legs. In fact, this gripping force in most instances would be sufiicient to hold the curtain from a rod or support without relying on the portions 5. 6,. However, no slippage is possible where the portions 5, 6 are used and the latter additionally ;perform their main function of holding themall pleats together.

In most instances it is preferable that the main pleat l be more or less flattened,E as seenin Figys. 2, 3. They tend to assume a, cylindrical .form When the pleat is first formed, and in Athe conventionally stitched pleats the main pleat ,is tacked to the main body of the curtain by stitching in order to hold it in generally the form indicated in Figs. 2, 3.

In the present instance a spreader in the form of a cross bar 25 (Fig. l) is securedto the extension 8 below coils 'l and projects oppositly outwardly of said extension about equal distances.

The ends of said bar 25 are extended upwardly at 26 and then downwardly at 21' to form a downwardly opening hook at each of said ends. which hooks are disposed at the side of the ba;` that faces toward legs I, 2.

When the pleat is formed the terminating Vend portions project into the pleatwhen the lattr is flattened as seen in Fig. 2, thus holding the main pleat in a flattened form inthe-same manner as though stitches Were used. The pleat is irounded along its. sides as seen'in Fig. 2. rather than having undesirable sharp side edges.

It is obvious from the foregoing that the coils 'I form a bearing for the extension on leg I. The cross bar 25 could be fabricated from sheet metal, as could most, if not all of the former and holder, but the spring Wire for the legs and pins or portions 5, 6 are preferable.

It is seen that with the present invention there is no mutilation of the curtains or draperies such as where stitching is employed. Stitching leaves .markings 'irrespective of 'how carefully they may '-be removed. The ping -or portions 5, 6 do not tear the cloth when the latter is impaled thereen, and as soon as the draperies or curtains are `washed. the openings resulting from the pins are not noticeable, and if the draperies or curtains .have :hems along their upper and lower edges, they may .bereversed end for end.

'The pleat formers and holders are absolutely invisible from the front side of the curtain or draperies and from any angle at which they are nrmally seen.

The pins will not tend to tear the cloth or to spread the openings they form because the weight of the curtains is taken by the legs where they grip the fabric extending between them. The corrugated complementarily formed portions of the legs prevent slippage.

Such curtains or draperies that .heretofore have been very difficult to sew, such as many *nylon" and fiber cloths and canvas, are easily and quickly pleated by use of the present invention, it being understood that the pleat forming and holding devices can be made of various weights and sizes according to where they are to be used.

'The pleat spreading device, vsuch as cross 'bar `25.and the hooks thereon, is not essential for all ppleats, but is desirable in most instances. The pleats are not necessarily all of the same size, although usually they are uniform in any one curtain or set of draperies.

I claim:

1` A, pleat former and holder for draperies and curtainseomprising a pair of opposedly extending pins supported for movement longitudinally thereof from an open position in generally longitudinal alignment to closed position in side by side .overlapping relationship, the adjacent ends of said pins when in open position being pointed and a pair of legs pivotally connected at one of their ends, for swinging of their opposite ends toward and away from each other in a plane subl stantially parallel to .the plane of such drapery,

said opposite ends of said legs being respectively rigidly connected with the opposite outer Vends of .said pins for swinging of said pins from said open position whensaid legs are apart to said closed position when said legs are substantially alongside each other, said legs being formed along their adjacent sides with cOmplemntarily fcrmed pro- V`jections and recesses for frictionally gripping a portion of said draperies therebetween when said legs are substantially alongvside each other.

2, pleat former and holder for draperies and curtains comprising a pair of opposedly extending pins supported for movement longitu- .dinally thereof from an open position in generally longitudinal alignment to closed position in side by side overlapping relationship, the adjacent ends of said pins when in open position `being pointed and a pair of legs pivotally connected at one of their ends, for swinging of their opposite ends toward and away from each other in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of -such drapery, said opposite ends of said legs being respectively rigidly connected with the opposite awmm outer ends of said pins for swinging of said pins from said open position when said legs are apart to said closed position when said legs are substantially alongside each other, a hook connected with said legs for suspending the latter and draperies impaled by said pins on a curtain rod, said hook including an extension integral with said hook and pivotally connecting said legs at said one of their ends for said swinging.

3. A pleat former and holder for draperies and curtains comprising a pair of legs, means pivotally connecting said legs together at one of their ends for swinging their opposite ends apart for receiving a portion of said draperies therebetween, means releasably looking said legs together with said portion of said draperies between said legs and extending substantially along the length of said legs, extensions on said opposite ends of said legs projecting generally laterally to corresponding sides of said legs, said extensions terminating in pointed end portions directed toward each other and adapted to lie in side by side relationship when said legs are together for impaling the folds of a pleat thereon with said extensions gripping said folds to hold them together.

4. A pleat former and holder for draperies and curtains comprising a pair of legs, means pivotally connecting said legs together at one of their ends for swinging their opposite ends apart for receiving a portion of said draperies therebetween, means releasably looking said legs together with said portion of said draperies between said legs and extending substantially along the length of said legs extensions on said opposite ends of said legs projecting generally laterally to corresponding sides of said legs, said extensions terminating in pointed end portions directed toward each other and adapted to lie in side by side relationship when said legs are together for impaling the folds of a pleat thereon with said extensions gripping said folds to hold them together, said legs being formed with complementarily formed pro- J'ections and recesses for frictionally gripping said portion of said draperies therebetween when said legs are substantially alongside each other.

5. A pleat former and holder for draperies and curtains comprising a pair of fabric engaging elements adapted to secure the folds of a pleat along the upper edge of draperies, a pair of legs pivotally connected at one of their ends for swinging of their opposite ends toward and away from each other, said opposite ends of said legs being respectively rigidly connected With said elements for swinging of said elements from an open position with the folds of said pleat between said elements and said legs to a closed position with said elements in fabric engaging relationship and with said legs substantially alongside each other, said legs being formed along their adjacent sides with complementarily formed projections and recesses for frictionally gripping a portion of said draperies therebetween when said legs are substantially alongside each other.

AUGUST R. SYLVANUS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 590,401 Morgan Sept. 21, 1897 834,188 Carr Oct. 23, 1906 1,295,539 Lubetich Feb. 25, 1919 1,341,684 Sweney June 1, 1920 1,820,997 Yeidel Sept. 1, 1931 2,180,726 Bradley Nov. 21, 1939 2.443,372 Bertram June 15, 1948 

